Trolling-spoon bait



(Model.)

a. M. SKINN'ER.

TROLLING SPOON BAIT.

No. 341,954. Patented May 18, 1886.

WWW/M WITNESSES N. PETERS, Phma-mho n hm, Washhlgtun, D. C

NITE *rarns ATENJT tries,

GARDINER M. SKINNER, OF CLAYTON, NEW YORK.

TROLLlNG-SPOON BAIT.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,954, dated May 18. 1886.

Applicaiion tiled October 21, 1885.

To-aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnnnrnnn M. KINNER, of Clayton, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolling Spoon Baits; and I do hereby declarethat the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact descriptionofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to trolling-spoon baits; audit consists in forming the spoon with a portion indented or hammered, in such manner as to produce the greatest amount of reflecting surface or surfaces when the spoon is rotated in passing through the water, whereby the attractiveness of the bait is measurably increased; and consists in the various combina tion of parts hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

Figure l is a front view of a spoon-bait embodying myinvention. Fig. 2is a side or edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of a spoonbait of a modified construction, embracing the general features of my invention. Fig. 4 is a spoon of a modified construction. Fig. 5 is still another modification of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

My improved spoon-bait is preferably constructed of sheet-copper,with one or both surfaces plated with silver, nickel, gold, oreide, or any other suitable metal plating whereby a bright surface may be produced; or burnished or polished copper may be used; or one surface of the spoon may be painted or enameled with any bright or attractive color whereby a bright reflecting-surface may be secured. On one extreme of the spoon, on the inner wall thereof, I provide a loop to fit over the wire, to which the hook and line are attached, by means of which the spoon is allowed to rotate on the wire when the same is drawn through the water. The metal from which the spoon is made is usually formed in sheets, from which the spoon is cut by means of a punch and die in the required shape, and is formed Serial No. 180,515. (hl'odct) up with a convex surface upon one side and a concave surface upon the other. For providing a surface to reflect the light and to make the bait attractive, I provide one or more corrugations on the surface; or a portion thereof may be fluted, another portion indented or hammered, whereby a variety of reflecting surfaces are formed. A portion also of the spoon may be left plain, with corrugations and indentations forming the convex surface of the spoon and like concave surfaces upon the opposite side. It is quite obvious that the corrugations, hammering, or indentations, and the smooth surface may be arranged in different manners, to suit the views of each particular manufacturer, without departing from the spirit of my inventionjor the surface of the spoon may be covered with corrugations and indentations, or the same may be part smooth and part hammered or indented.

In the accompanying drawings, a represents a spoon of my improved construction. It rep resents a loop on the same, with perforations for fitting over and rotating on the connectingwire when the same is drawn through the Water.

I) represents a plain surface on my improved spoon.

I) represents the corrugated surface.

Z) represents the indented or hammered surface.

It is quite obvious that any desired form of fiuting or corrugating of the surface of the spoon may be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, so long as some portion of the surface is corrugated and in dented or hammered, as before described.

0 represents a well-known device forv connecting the hooks-and line on which the spoon is mounted to be rotated.

Heretoforc a patent was granted to me on the 14th day of August, 1874-, for a spoon made similar to this one, except that it was fluted and. corrugated only. This device I do not claim in this application.

The hammered surface is adapted to provide a much brighter surface, and from its many angles it throws the reflected rays of light in I am also aware that plated spoons are old.

Corrugated spoons are old, and fluted spoons are old, and such constructions, broadly, I disclaim.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 5 by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A metallic trolling-spoon bait having a hammered surface, substantially as'described. 2. A metallic spoon-bait having a part of its bright surface hammered, substantially as IO described.

3. The combination, in a spoon-bait of the character described, of the fluted and ham mered surfaces, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a spoon-bait of the character described, of the fluted surface, the l 5 hammered surface, and the smooth surface, arranged and combined substantially as described, for the purpose stated.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GARDINER M. SKINNER.

Witnesses:

EDWIN H. RIsLEY, L. F. STUART. 

